March 29, 2023 Episode #300 Episode #300: What Alumni Would Do Differently, If They Could Redo Their College Years!
One alum would take more classes - difficult ones, another would attend all the daily talks (followed by dinner) on campus by renowned experts, and yet another would befriend professors as future collaborators. There’s more.This episode organizes alumni thoughts on this topic from past episodes into 6 different buckets, while providing a flavor of their thinking in the form of snippets.
March 21, 2023 Episode #299 Dir. Jenny Hyest of U of Cincinnati: Advising for Nationally Competitive Awards.
When Jenny was in college, she did not apply for any of the nationally competitive awards. In fact, she didn’t even know of their existence. In this podcast, Jenny Hyest shares her background, her role as Director, the various Awards, The Importance of Awards, How they help students apply, and Advice for High Schoolers.
March 17, 2023 Episode #298 Maya Nelson of CU Boulder: Biochemistry, UG Research Replicating Pathways, and the Hiking Club.
The Sciences were Maya’s favorite courses in High School - Chemistry, Biology and Ecology. Especially Chemistry. It seemed aligned with the way her mind worked. Maya joins us on our podcast to share her UG Experience at CU Boulder, UG Research, Hiking Expeditions, and Advice for high schoolers.
March 13, 2023 Episode #297 Tom Stepkoski of Westhill High School on College Counseling: Thrive. Not Just Survive.
Tom admired his coaches in high school. In fact after graduating from High School, he went back to his high school to be a coach. He noticed that a number of coaches were also guidance counselors. It would be another 20 years before he actually jumped into counseling full time at Westhill High School. On our podcast, Tom talks about his background, Westhill High School, Counseling approach & philosophy, the challenges, Success Stories, and his advice for high school students.
March 9, 2023 Episode #296 Prof. Haseeb Kazi of Trine University on UG Research: Students Create Their Own Learning Experiences.
For the past 2 decades - Prof. Haseeb Kazi has been living his dream - teaching and doing research. Prof. Kazi has been at the forefront of undergraduate research in Mathematics inspiring, promoting, guiding and facilitating student projects. Prof. Kazi joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at Trine University, CUR’s Role, Impact of Research, Success Stories, and Advice for High Schoolers.
March 4, 2023 Episode #294 Lynn Pickering of the University of Cincinnati: Aerospace Engineering, Fuzzy Logic, and Fulbright Research Scholar.
Lynn was a busy high schooler. She liked a lot of subjects, took a lot of AP classes.In her senior year she took an engineering class, enjoyed it, and decided to pursue it in college. Lynn joins us on our podcast to share her Undergraduate experience at U of Cincinnati, Research in Fuzzy Logic, Fulbright Research Scholarship, Co-Op programs, and Advice for high schoolers.
March 1, 2023 Episode #293 Sean Kennedy of Ravenscroft School on College Counseling: Pathway to Developing Student’s Potential.
Sean Kennedy’s counseling journey had its origins in High School. Inspired by the impact his High School College Counselor had on him, he jumped at a counseling role early in his career. Sean Kennedy is the Co-Director of College Counseling at Ravenscroft School. On our podcast, Sean talks about his background, Ravenscroft School, Counseling approach & philosophy, the challenges, managing expectations, and his advice for high school students.
February 28, 2023 Episode #292 Kayla Smith of Central State University: Goldwater Scholar, Environmental Engineering, and HBCU Outreach.
Kayla loved the Sciences in High School, especially Physics, Mathematics & Astronomy. Kayla joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey at Central State University, winning the Goldwater Scholarship, UG Space Research experiences as CalTech WAVE Fellow, and Advice for High Schoolers.
February 20, 2023 Episode #291 Shanita Nichols on Bottom Line: College Access, College Success, and Educational Equity.
When Shanita Nichols was a senior in High School, Bottom Line guided her to an affordable college for her undergraduate study.Today, Shanita Nichols is the Managing Director of Development at Bottom Line. In this podcast, Shanita tells us What Bottom Line is, Its origins, Programs it offers, College Advisors, Partners and Success Stories.
February 13, 2023 Episode #289 Dr. Anil Menon of U of Cincinnati College of Medicine: What is the UG Medical Sciences Program?
Dr. Menon and his colleagues came up with an undergraduate program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for undergrads to go through a mini-medical program, and decide if medicine is for them. Dr. Anil Menon is the Associate Dean of the UG Program in Medical Sciences.In this Podcast, Dr. Menon shares what the medical sciences undergraduate program is, Program Highlights, How to Apply, Scholarships, Career Options and Advice for High Schoolers.
February 7, 2023 Episode #288 Heather Hamade of Oakland University Honors College: Studio Art, Honors Thesis, and Collaborative Peers.
Heather was very focused on academics in High School. Lots of English classes because she initially thought she wanted to be a writer. But Art was where her passion lay, something she had been engaged in, since she was 11. Heather joins our podcast to share her undergraduate Honors College journey at Oakland University, about being an artist, her UG Thesis experiences, and Advice for high school students.
February 3, 2023 Episode #287 Luc White of Radford University Honors College: Biology and Studio Art, President Honors Student Council, and Lots of UG Research.
Luc went to a big high school in rural Virginia. With the help of engaged teachers, Luc developed a passion for Science, Art & Photography. As a high achieving student, they chose to attend Radford University Honors College as a First Gen student. Luc joins our podcast to share their undergraduate honors college journey at Radford University, UG Research experiences, Study Abroad, Honors Student Council, and Advice for college-bound students.
January 27, 2023 Episode #285 Dean Steve Engel of Georgia Southern Honors College: Making Excellence a Habit.
In 2005, Prof. Engel became the Director of what was then the Honors Program at Georgia Southern. In 2020, when the Honors Program transitioned to Honors College, Prof. Engel became the Dean of the Honors College. In this podcast, Dean Engel introduces the Georgia Southern Honors College, shares the Highlights of Programs, How to Apply, UG Research, Study Abroad, Scholarships and Career Opportunities..
January 26, 2023 Episode #284 Kimber Cheek of Radford University Honors College: Anthropological Sciences, UG Research and Evolution - The Board Game.
By her own admission, Kimber was a book nerd in high school. She also watched True Crime TV Shows, which Inspired her to study some form of forensics by the time she was a senior.Kimber joins our podcast to share her undergraduate honors college journey at Radford University, UG Research experiences, Interest in Forensic Science, FBI Internship, and Advice for High School Students.
January 20, 2023 Episode #283 Sandra Foy of Seattle Prep on College Counseling: Students Getting to Know About Themselves.
Sandra got her start in College Counseling when Seattle Prep changed direction to become a 4-year High School Program in the late ‘80s. Today, she is the Director of College Counseling at the school. On our podcast, Sandra shares her background, her counseling approach, changes over the decades, managing expectations, and advice to high school students.
January 19, 2023 Episode #282 Ian Cleary of Oakland University Honors College: Biomedical Sciences, Baseball, and UG Research.
In High School, Ian was deep into Math, Science and Technology. He was a member of the school’s baseball varsity team. And when time came for college, he wanted one close to home with good Science programs. Ian joins our podcast to share his undergraduate Honors College journey, being a student-athlete, UG Research experiences, and Advice for college-bound students.
January 12, 2023 Episode #280 Nathan Persampieri of MassBay & Merrimack: Social Justice, Civic Engagement, and Founding a Scholarship.
Nathan lives with a rare neurological diagnosis. In high school, he started getting involved with the community, focusing on how to be compassionate towards people with disabilities. Nathan joins our podcast to share his experiences on his undergraduate college journey at MassBay Community College & Merrimack, on Founding a Scholarship, and his Advice for High School Students with disabilities.
January 8, 2023 Episode #279 Athena Lao on How to Choose Your College Counselor.
As high schoolers and their parents start to seriously think about college in their sophomore years, one of the important resources they start to look for is a College Counselor. Athena Lao walks us through the Things to Consider as you choose your College Counselor.
January 5, 2023 Episode #278 Prof. Tsu-Ming Chiang of GCSU on UG Research: Helping Students Find a Direction.
When Prof. Chiang started doing research as an undergraduate, she found she had lots of questions. And when the Graduate Assistants couldn’t answer her questions, they told her she should go to graduate school. Prof. Chiang joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at Georgia College, CUR’s Role, Success Stories, and Advice for High Schoolers.
December 15, 2022 Episode #277 Dean David Jenemann of the University of Vermont Honors College: A Community of Inquiry.
Prof. Jenemann did not grow up dreaming of being the Dean of an Honors College. Today, he is the Dean of University of Vermont Honors College. In this podcast, Dean Jenemann introduces the UVM Honors College, Highlights of Key Programs, How to Apply, UG Research, Study Abroad and Career Opportunities.
December 11, 2022 Episode #276 Timothy O’Neil of U of Colorado, Boulder on UG Research: Relational Activity.
Tim discovered undergraduate research as a student at Oklahoma State University when a peer introduced him to this idea of partnering with Faculty and doing research. On our podcast, Tim O’Neil talks about UG Research at UC Boulder, the role CUR plays, Impact of Research on Students, and finally the Advice for high schoolers..
December 1, 2022 Episode #274 Dir. Niels Christensen on the Honors College at Radford University: Where Academic Excellence and Social Community Come Together.
Prof. Niels Christensen’s first experience with Honors College was as a faculty member at San Diego State University and was randomly assigned to teach the Honors Introductory Psychology course. In this podcast, Director Christensen introduces the Honors College at Radford University, Notable Programs, about their Students, Faculty, and Career Opportunities.
November 22, 2022 Episode #272 Prof. Jennifer Coleman of WNMU: Fostering UG Research In Campus Labs and Online.
When Prof. Coleman was in college, she really liked the life that the parents of a close friend were leading. They were University Professors. And she wanted to emulate them.They advised her to do research and that UG Research started her off into the decades-long journey into academia and research. Prof. Coleman joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at WNM University, CUR’s Role, Enabling Research Online, Impact of Research, Success Stories, and Advice for High Schoolers.
November 17, 2022 Episode #271 Dr. Herb Childress on US Colleges: Look Beyond the Easy Summary Labels.
When Herb was in High School, he wanted to be an architect, though he didn’t quite know what it was. After High School he went to college, but dropped out after 2 years. After working in retail for a number of years, he went back to college to pursue Architecture. In this podcast, Herb shares his College Journey, Career Flow, About US Colleges, Exploring Colleges, Majors, Impact of College and Advice for High Schoolers and Parents.
November 15, 2022 Episode #270 Ian Curtis of Grand Valley State University: Stats & French, UG Research and A History Game.
In High School, Ian was constantly exploring. He took a number of different classes to figure out what he liked and didn’t like. When he was applying to college, he didn’t even know that Research was a thing! Ian joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Grand Valley, his UG Research experiences, and Advice for college-bound students.
November 7, 2022 Episode #269 Prof. Joyce Fernandes of Miami University on UG Research: High Impact Practice (HIP).
Prof. Fernandes’ journey into research, took flight while studying Fruit Flies as part of her PhD. But, her first encounter with UG Research occurred when she joined the Faculty at Miami University. Now, she is the Director of Undergraduate Research at Miami University in Ohio. Prof. Fernandes talks about UG Research at Miami University, the role CUR plays, Impact of Research on UG Students, Success stories, and Advice for High Schoolers.
November 2, 2022 Episode #267 Stacy Okada of UMass: Goldwater Scholar, UG Research at MassBay Community College, and Second Chances.
20 years after high school, Stacy started at MassBay Community College. The transition to college was hard, especially while managing a family with two very young children. Stacy joins our podcast to share her undergraduate experiences, UG Research experiences at MassBay Community College and UMass Boston, and winning the Goldwater Scholarship.
October 29, 2022 Episode #266 Holden Dahlerbruch on Tufts University: International Relations & Interdisciplinary Studies, Coke Scholar, and Culinary Playground.
In high school, Holden’s passion for cooking landed him on a TV Show called Man versus Child: Chef Showdown as a child chef. Naturally, when time came for college, he wanted to go where he could build on his love for food. Holden joins us on our podcast to share his unusual undergraduate experience at Tufts, The Coke Scholarship, Pursuing his passion for food, and Advice for high schoolers.
October 26, 2022 Episode #265 Rohan Pasari on Cialfo Direct Apply: Simplifying International College Applications to Make Higher Ed More Accessible.
Cialfo offers Direct Apply - a one-stop application for international applicants. In this Podcast, Rohan tells us What Direct Apply is, Feature Highlights, Benefits for Int’l Students, Counselors and Schools, and Why even Colleges and Universities like it.
October 21, 2022 Episode #264 Dean Graeme Harper on Oakland University Honors College: Distinctive, Personalized & Affordable for High Achieving Students.
Prof. Graeme Harper joined as the Dean of the Oakland University Honors College in 2011. In this podcast, Dean Harper tells us, What is an Honors College?, It's Origins, Introduces Oakland University Honors College, Its Distinctive Programs, What they look for in their Students, Merit Scholarships and Career Opportunities.
October 19, 2022 Episode #262 Prof. Kevin Haworth of University of Cincinnati: Physics to Internal Medicine, Goldwater Scholar, and UG Research in Photonic Crystals.
Prof. Kevin Haworth fell in love with Physics in High School. He loved teaching. So, when time came for college, he looked for schools that would help him be a High School Physics Teacher. Prof. Haworth joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey, his UG Research in Physics at Truman State University, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Road to Internal Medicine, and his Advice for high schoolers.
October 14, 2022 Episode #261 Dr. Jenny Davis & Dr. James Chouinard of Australian National University: From Undergraduate Researchers to Nurturing Faculty Mentors.
As undergraduate students at Radford University in Virginia, Jenny Davis and James Chouinard found themselves doing community-based research at the Women’s Resource Center.Today, Drs. Davis and Chouinard are with the School of Sociology at ANU and nurturing Faculty Mentors. In our Podcast, Drs. Davis & Chouinard talk about their UG Research at Radford University, Impact of UG Research, Experiences as Faculty Mentors, and finally the Advice for high schoolers.
October 11, 2022 Episode #260 Ben Stern of IvyAchievement: Selecting Colleges with Finances in Mind.
In this Podcast, Ben Stern of IvyAchievement shares his expertise in Factoring Finances while Building College Lists, Figuring out College ROI, and the Impact of Applying for Financial Aid on Admissions.
October 6, 2022 Episode #259 Sophia Barber of UCSD: Goldwater Scholar, UG Research at Pasadena City College to Neurobiology Lab.
Sophia’s immediate family members have a neurological condition which motivated her to want to go to Medical School. When time came for college, Sophia decided to go to Pasadena City College for financial reasons.Sophia joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey, UG Research at Pasadena City College and UC San Diego, About winning the Goldwater Scholarship, and her advice for high schoolers.
Sep 30, 2022 Episode #258 Prof. Elizabeth Vargis of USU on UG Research: An Imperative as an Undergraduate Student.
Prof. Vargis was very excited when she started her undergraduate study in Bioengineering. While she made progress in her classes, she felt she had lost her way. Then, she started doing undergraduate research and applying what she was learning in the classroom. Prof. Vargis joins us on our podcast to talk about her background, UG Research in Vargis Lab, Resources for Students, Success Stories, and finally the Skills needed to do research.
Sep 26, 2022 Episode #256 About Majors: What is Art History? With Prof. Alexa Sand of Utah State University.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Art History, with Prof. Alexa Sand of Utah State University.
Sep 16, 2022 Episode #255 Prof. Kymberly Harris of Georgia Southern University on UG Research: Students Become Scholars.
Prof. Harris was a school teacher before she became a University Professor. As a Teacher you collect a lot of data. On academics, achievement test scores, how to motivate students, what time to day do they learn better etc. On our podcast, Prof. Harris talks about UG Research at Georgia Southern, the role CUR plays, Impact of Research on Students, success stories, and finally the skills for high schoolers to do research.
September 14, 2022 Episode #253 Brett Steck, Esther Jeninga and Dean Wink of UW Whitewater: UG Research to Monitor Landslides.
Brett Steck, Esther Jeninga and Dean Wink are at the different stages of their undergraduate study. Brett, Esther and Dean join us on our podcast to talk about their Undergraduate Research experiences, their work on Landslide project, and how it is making a difference to them.
September 6, 2022 Episode #252 Aaron Sandoval of U of Florida: Biology, Goldwater Scholar, and UG Research in Regeneration.
Aaron always had an interest in Biology. Once he got to University of Florida, he found his research passion working on Regeneration. Aaron joins our Podcast to share his undergraduate college journey, UG Research in Regeneration at the University of Florida, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship and his advice for high schoolers.
August 31, 2022 Episode #250 About College and Beyond: Skylar Walters, 2022 Coke Scholar, Madison High School, New Jersey.
Skylar is a 2022 Coke Scholar. Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship.In this Podcast, Skylar talks about being a Science Media Creator, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, her college search process, and advice to college aspirants.
August 29, 2022 Episode #249 About College and Beyond: Dean Kyriakopoulos of Cranbrook Kingswood High School, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Dean is a Junior in High School. His passion is to travel back in time and study the daily lives of people in the past. In this Podcast, Dean talks about his High School interests, Extracurricular activities and his plans for College & Beyond!
August 26, 2022 Episode #248 About Majors: What is Creative Writing? With Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Creative Writing, with Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University.
August 19, 2021 Episode #247 About College and Beyond: Logan Lau, 2022 Coke Scholar, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Hawaii.
Logan is a 2022 Coke Scholar. Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. In this Podcast, Logan talks about his interests in Humanities & Sciences, Medicine, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, his college search process, and advice to college aspirants.
August 17, 2022 Episode #246 Stacey Kostell on Simplifying College Application: Apply Coalition on Scoir.
As of August 1, 2022, students who use the Coalition Application to apply for college, do so on Scoir. Coalition has formed a partnership with Scoir and Technolutions to create a one-stop college application platform.Stacey Kostell, the CEO joins us on our podcast to tell us all about the Partnership with Scoir and Technolutions and how students and Coalition partners benefit.
August 15, 2022 Episode #245 Cara Skikne of Studyportals: Helping Students Find the Right International College Programs.
Studyportals was founded to be a one-stop solution to find international college programs. Today, almost 15 years later, Studyportals lists over 200K programs, from over 3700 Universities in 110 countries, and served 52M prospective students in 2021. Cara Skikne, Senior Editor joins us on our podcast to tell us How Studyportals got started, How they help College-bound students & Universities, Global Int’l Student Trends and Advice for college-bound students.
August 12, 2022 Episode #244 Christina Chance of Emory University: Math & Computer Science, UG Research on Fairness in AI, and BLIS.
Christina had a number of interests in High school. She liked Math, Photography and Sports. When time came for college, she wanted to go where STEM and Humanities came together. Christina joins us on our podcast to share her UG Experience at Emory, how she got into UG Research, her research in Fairness in AI and advice for high schoolers.
August 11, 2021 Episode #243 About College and Beyond: Aditi Kapadia of Cranbrook Kingswood High School, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Aditi loves English and Spanish. She writes for the School Newspaper, tutors young kids. In this Podcast, Aditi talks about her High School interests, Extracurricular activities and her plans for College & Beyond!
August 9, 2022 Episode #242 Prof. Kristen Genet of Anoka-Ramsey Community College: Institutionalizing UG Research.
When Prof. Kristen Genet started at Anoka-Ramsey, her plan was to just stay there for a few years. As an ecologist and trained researcher, she wanted to do research as well as teach.Today, 20 years later, Anoka-Ramsey Community College has institutionalized undergraduate research across its programs.In this Podcast, Prof. Genet first tells us how UG Research came to Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
August 2, 2021 Episode #236 About College and Beyond: Rishika Kartik, 2022 Coke Scholar, St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood, Colorado.
Rishika joins Brown University in Fall 2022. Rishika talks about her interests in Science, Arts, her social activism, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, her college search process, and her advice to college aspirants.
July 30, 2022 Episode #239 Justice Robinson of UNC: Goldwater Scholar, UG Research at Tulsa Community College to Frohlich Lab.
After high school, Justice was forced to take up a job. After 6 years of selling insurance, Justice enrolled in Tulsa Community College, and opened the door to Research, The Goldwater Scholarship and more. Justice joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey, UG Research experiences at TCC and UNC.
July 21, 2022 Episode #238 Olivia Brock of USU: Statistics & Art History, UG Research on Astrolabes, and Great Relationships.
Olivia loved most subjects in High School. She was an avid ceramic artist. She was active in student government. When applying to college, she was planning to major in Business and then apply to Law School. Olivia joins our podcast to tell us how, and share her UG Research experiences and her undergraduate college journey at USU.
July 19, 2022 Episode #237 Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University on UG Research: Independence, Empowerment and Agency.
Dean Graeme Harper did not do research as an undergraduate. But Dean Harper is no stranger to creativity. He is a writer with dozens of Fiction and Non-fiction books to his credit. Today, Dean Harper and his team have embedded UG Research into the Oakland University Honors College Program. On our podcast, Dean Harper talks about UG Research at the Honors College, CUR’s role, Impact of Research on Students, Success Stories, and advice for high schoolers.
July 16, 2021 Episode #236 College and Beyond: Charlotte James of Dowling Catholic High School, Iowa.
Charlotte talks about her High School interests, her involvement in the high school community, and as a rising senior, her plans for College & Beyond!
July 11, 2022 Episode #234 About Majors: What is Geology? With Prof. Juk Bhattacharyya of UW Whitewater.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Geology, with Juk Bhattacharyya, Professor of Geology at UW Whitewater.
July 8, 2022 Episode #233 Rosseirys De La Rosa “Ro” of Emory University: Anthropology, UG Research on Indigenous DNA, and Mentor Support.
Ro grew up watching TV shows like “Bones”, “NCIS” and “Castle” which got her excited about Forensic Science. When Ro joined Emory University, she started doing research in her very first semester! Ro joins us on our podcast to share her Undergraduate Research experiences and her college journey at Emory.
July 6, 2022 Episode #232 Prof. Susan Mendoza of GVSU on UG Research: How to Ask a Good Question.
When Prof. Mendoza was an undergraduate, she felt intimidated by the Faculty. So, when was doing her graduate work, she was intrigued by undergraduate students that would willingly do independent research with Faculty. Prof. Mendoza is the Founding Director of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Michigan. On our podcast, Prof. Mendoza talks about UG Research at GVSU, Impact of Research on Students, Success Stories, and finally the Skills for high schoolers to do research.
June 27, 2022 Episode #231 Britain Meade and Ethan Hensel of UW Whitewater: UG Research Has Given Their College Journey Direction.
Ethan Hensel was unclear what he really wanted out of college. Britain Meade wasn’t ready to jump into a 4-year degree program after high school. Britain and Ethan join us on our podcast to share their Undergraduate Research experiences and its impact on their college journey at UW Whitewater.
June 21, 2021 Episode #229 College and Beyond: Rebecca Youngers of Dowling Catholic High School, Iowa.
Rebecca talks about her passion for writing & journalism, her broad range of interests in high school, how she went about her college search process, and her advice to college aspirants.
June 14, 2022 Episode #227 Tyler Sant of AIS on Global College Counseling: Authentic, Trusting Relationships to Guide Students & Parents.
Tyler’s foray into College Counseling was unplanned. He discovered he loved working with High School kids. Tyler Sant is the Head of College Counseling at Atlanta International School (AIS). On our podcast, Tyler shares his counseling philosophy, working with US and Int’l Colleges and advice to high school students.
June 10, 2022 Episode #226 About Majors: What is Sociology? With Prof. Jeanne Mekolichick of Radford University.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Sociology, with Jeanne Mekolichick, Professor of Sociology at Radford University.
June 6, 2022 Episode #224 Maya Brooks on New York University: Economics, Global Liberal Studies and NY Annual Pillow Fight.
Maya was in high school at the time of the Great Recession of ‘08. So, when time came for college, she wanted to focus on whatever gave her the best chance of getting a job after graduating from college. Maya Brooks is a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
June 3, 2022 Episode #223 John Mateja on The Barry Goldwater Scholarship: Identify, Encourage & Support Students doing Undergraduate Research.
In his sophomore year of college, John was losing interest in Physics. UG Research changed things completely for him. Today he is the President of the Goldwater Scholarship. Set up in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater’s distinguished public service, the Scholarship promotes undergraduate research by awarding scholarships to students.
May 22, 2022 Episode #222 Colleen Koppes of Dowling Catholic on College Counseling: Questioning, Advocating, Sharing Knowledge.
Colleen went to a high school with about 1000 students in rural Iowa. She rarely got a chance to interact with her counselor. Colleen Koppes is the College and Career Coordinator at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. On our podcast, Colleen shares her background, her counseling approach, how College Applications and Admissions are changing and her advice to high school students.
May 17, 2022 Episode #220 Prof. Juk Bhattacharyya of UW Whitewater on UG Research: Tackling Real-World Problems.
While doing her graduate program in Geology, Prof. Bhattacharyya found that Research shaped her understanding of her discipline. Prof. Bhattacharayya joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at UW Whitewater, CUR’s role, Infrastructure for Students & Faculty, success stories, and finally the skills needed for research.
May 11, 2022 Episode #219 Kayla and David Suisse on Utah State: Undergraduate Research on Medicinal Benefits of Sagebrush, and Discovering Humanities.
In High School, Kayla was quite stressed trying to figure out what course to pursue. David on the other hand, was pretty set on studying medicine early on. Kayla and David join us on our podcast to share their Undergraduate Research experience with Sagebrush-based research, and their college journey at Utah State University.
May 7, 2022 Episode #218 Elizabeth Eill: How Undergraduate Research Propelled her from Community College to a PhD.
Elizabeth says she wasn’t a very good student in high school. Her family recommended that she attend the local Finger Lakes Community College. There she met Prof James Hewlett and discovered undergraduate research. Elizabeth received her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from State University of New York Upstate Medical University.
May 3, 2022 Episode #216 Carson Crochet on Davidson College: German Studies, Arab Studies, CA’Buddy and The Hurt Hub.
At 14, Carson started carrying an Invention Book in her backpack to doodle & jot down ideas for innovation. If she got bored in a class, she would escape to her invention book to think of problems, and come up with solutions. Carson Crochet is a graduating senior at Davidson College majoring in German Studies and Arab Studies.
April 30, 2022 Episode #215 Kelly Jorgensen of Nichols School on College Counseling: Impacting Student Lives While Keeping them Balanced.
Kelly started as a somewhat reluctant College Counselor. But once she jumped into college counseling, she was hooked. Kelly Jorgensen is the Director of College Counseling at Nichols School in Buffalo, New York. On our podcast, Kelly shares her approach to counseling, about “intentionality”, managing families expectations and advice to high school students.
April 26, 2022 Episode #213 Aidan Arasasingham on UCLA: Global Studies, UC Students’ President, and Dinner with 12 Strangers.
Aidan’s deep interest in History and World Politics was shaped by his own and extended family, being displaced by the civil war in Sri Lanka, to different parts of the world. Aidan Arasasingham is a graduate of UCLA with a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies.
April 22, 2022 Episode #212 Carolyn Norton of Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation: Become a Coke Scholar and Join the Family.
Carolyn was a Second Grade School Teacher in Virginia with a desire to do more in non-profit education. She landed a role as the Alumni Relations Manager at the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. The Foundation has awarded $78M in scholarships to 6600 Scholars since its founding in 1986. Carolyn gives us an overview of The Coca Cola Scholarship, How High School Seniors can Apply and the Benefits for the Scholars.
April 19, 2022 Episode #210 Rohan Pasari on Cialfo: Making College Journey Accessible to High School Students.
When Rohan was getting ready to apply to College in Kolkata, India, his high school did not have a College Counselor to guide him. Rohan shares How Cialfo got started, Their impact on Students, Schools, Counselors and Colleges, and Advice for college-bound students. Rohan Pasari is the Co-founder and CEO of Cialfo, a Global Ed-Tech company in Singapore.
April 12, 2022 Episode #208 MaryLynne Rodriguez of St. Francis on College Counseling: Making Future Bright for Students.
When MaryLynne was in High School, she noticed that the amount of attention students received from counselors depended on their grades. MaryLynne shares her background & insights, her approach to counseling, the COVID impact, her advice to high school students. MaryLynne Rodriguez is the Guidance and College Counseling Chair at St. Francis High School in California.
April 8, 2022 Episode #207 Sachin Ravi on UW Madison: Computer Science, Exploration, and Pickup Basketball.
Sachin was a typical high school kid. He was a good student. Got good grades. Liked Math and Science. Played tennis for his High School. Played basketball. Loved video games. But, he didn’t have an outsized interest or passion for any of the subjects. Sachin Ravi is a graduate of University of Wisconsin Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
April 4, 2022 Episode #206 Katy Murphy of Bellarmine on College Counseling: Giving Students the Opportunity to Envision their Future.
3 different High Schools. 3 very different types with College Counseling. In this podcast, Katy Murphy shares her experiences & insights on college counseling, how to deal with COVID-impacted changes, and her advice for high school students. Katy Murphy is the Director of College Counseling at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, California.
March 30, 2022 Episode #205 Thomas Athey on Davidson College: PPE & History, Student Entrepreneurship, and The Hurt Hub Community.
Thomas found entrepreneurship at a young age. He taught himself investing and then along with his best friend started a summer camp for 7, 8th graders to teach them finance and investing. At the end of high school he started Portfolio Kings. Thomas Athey is a sophomore at Davidson College.
March 29, 2022 Episode #204 Dr. Tim Raines of Emory University: Undergraduate Research is a Strategic Priority.
Dr. Raines shares how UG Research changed his career trajectory. He discusses Emory’s UG Research Program, How CUR helps Emory, the Resources they offer the Students & Faculty, Student Successes, and his Advice for High Schoolers.
March 25, 2022 Episode #203 Amanda Simpson, Admissions Counselor at TCNJ: Welcoming Place, High Quality Programs, and Undergraduate Research.
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a liberal arts institution established in 1855 as a public university in New Jersey. Amanda Simpson gives us an overview of TCNJ, their Flagship Programs, Undergraduate Research, How COVID has changed things, Financial Aid and advice for High School Students.
March 21, 2022 Episode #201 Aya Yagi on Stanford: French & Music, Study Abroad in Paris, and Midnight Pizzas.
While growing up, music was a big part of Aya’s life. She played the piano and violin. She loved foreign languages. French in particular. Aya Yagi is a graduate of Stanford University with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Music. Now, as a member of the Stanford University Alumni, Aya shares her Undergraduate Experience.
March 14, 2022 Episode #200 Episode #200: 10 Positive Online Stories from Students and Faculty during the Pandemic.
A Physics Professor hustling to move Labs online, a college senior finally learning to play chess, a high school senior who discovers her public speaking skills, student entrepreneurs and more. 10 Vignettes showcasing those, who in spite of being forced to be Online during the pandemic, had something to offer that was positive, inspiring, noteworthy or worthy of celebrating.
March 8, 2022 Episode #198 Bill Hancock of Cranbrook Kingswood High School: College Counseling Makes a Difference.
Bill Hancock is the Senior Associate Dean of College Counseling at Cranbrook Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Bill shares his “How?What?Why? Where?” approach to College Counseling, today’s opportunities and challenges for students & colleges, and finally advice for high schoolers as they navigate the college process.
February 24, 2022 Episode #196 Prof. Alexa Sand of Utah State University: UG Research Engages Students across Majors.
Prof. Alexa Sands talks about UG Research at Utah State, the role CUR plays, the services her group provides Students & Faculty, their successes, and finally the skills and characteristics needed to do research.
February 20, 2022 Episode #195 Dominic Perkaj on Columbia University: Political Science, Football, and Milano Market.
Dominic grew up playing Football. He was in the National Honor Society. He was involved in community service in school. When time came for college, He was recruited to play football. Dominic Perkaj is a graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government.
February 14, 2022 Episode #193 About Majors: What is Environmental Studies? With Prof. Josh Schimel of UC Santa Barbara.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Environmental Studies, with Josh Schimel, Professor of Environmental Studies at University of California Santa Barbara.
February 6, 2022 Episode #191 Tyler Gathman on ISU: Chemical Engineering, Intramural Sports, and Standing in Line for Basketball Games.
Tyler grew up around engineers. Tyler liked Math and even participated in the “Project Lead the Way” program for Engineering in Minnesota. He was a Boy Scout and played varsity baseball. Tyler Gathman is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
January 31, 2021 Episode #189 What is the Study of Medicine? With Dr. Sanjeet Rangarajan of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with the Study of Medicine, with Dr. Sanjeet Rangarajan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
January 27, 2022 Episode #188 Prof. James Hewlett of Finger Lakes on CCURI: Bringing UG Research to Community Colleges.
Prof. James Hewlett first tells How UG Research started at Finger Lakes Community College, the origins and structure of CCURI, How they help other Community Colleges start UG Research and finally, advice to students & faculty.
January 24, 2021 Episode #186 About Majors: What is Engineering? With Profs. Glenn Beltz & Kevin Plaxco of UC Santa Barbara.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Engineering, with UC Santa Barbara Professors - Glenn Beltz, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Associate Dean in the College of Engineering, and Kevin Plaxco, Professor of BioEngineering.
January 19, 2022 Episode #185 Kaivallya Dasu on Berkeley: Molecular Biology, Creative Writing and Indian Fusion.
Kaivallya grew up in the US and India. From an early age she had a passion for writing. She even published a book when she was in High School. While in high school, she also developed a strong interest in Chemistry, Biology, especially genetics. Kaivallya Dasu is a senior at the University of California Berkeley and plans to major in Molecular Biology and minor in Creative Writing.
January 12, 2022 Episode #184 Miri Choi on MIT: Computer Science, 8 Internships and Pistol Team.
Miri says she was a Math and Science girl in High School. She knew she was very good at Math. In addition, she liked to play the flute, participated in lots of events and won awards in a number of competitions. Miri Choi is a graduate of MIT with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
January 10, 2022 Episode #182 Miya Walker, Sr. Asst. Dean Admissions at Emory: Exploration & Discovery, Rigorous Academics, and Community Oriented.
Miya Walker gives us an overview of Emory, their innovative approach to education, their flagship programs, what they look for in their students, Financial Scholarships and advice for aspiring students.
December 31, 2021 Episode #180 What is Renewable Energy? With Prof. Mads Almassalkhi, University of Vermont.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities.We continue this series with Renewable Energy, with Mads Almassalkhi, Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering and the Director of the Control and Optimization Renewable Energy (CORE) Systems Lab at the University of Vermont.
December 16, 2021 Episode #178 Craig Chu on CalTech: Applied Mathematics, SURF and Ditch Day.
Craig loved math and science while he was in high school in Texas. Math came easily to him. He dreamed of creating the next big thing or doing game changing research. Craig Chu is a graduate of CalTech with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied and Computational Mathematics.
December 8, 2021 Episode #176 Jeanne and Lindsay on CUR: UG Research is Transformative & Changes Career Trajectory.
Jeanne and Lindsay talk about Why UG Research is transformative, the UG Research services CUR provides to College and Students, and prepping to do research in college. Professor Jeanne Mekolichick is the President and Lindsay Currie the Executive Officer of Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR).
December 6, 2021 Episode #175 Segment #10: You Just Clicked Submit. What Next? A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #10 of the 10-Segment Podcast Series to help students in 11th Grade build standout US College Applications. This segment focuses on the things that need to be done after submitting the Application. Student Assignments.
November 29, 2021 Episode #173 David Kastelman on Yale: Econometrics, Summer in Ghana and The Glory of Intramurals.
During High School, David grew up thinking he loved Biology and was passionate about Global Development & Poverty. He was involved in a number of related clubs in school, played baseball and was in the student government. David Kastelman is a graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics & Cognitive Science.
November 21, 2021 Episode #171 Ruby Hsu on UVM: Community Entrepreneurship, Different Cultures and Exploring to Find Answers.
Ruby grew up in Taiwan and did her High School in Northfield, Massachusetts. A High School teacher took her to a Chinese restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, home of UVM. The restaurant owners told her that she could walk to their restaurant if she joined UVM. Ruby Hsu is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Applied Economics.
November 12, 2021 Episode #169 Luke Neureiter on Swarthmore: Peace Engineering, Soccer, and Lang Scholar.
Swarthmore did not make Luke’s initial list, because his dad went to Swarthmore. Then, late fall of his senior year, he visited Swarthmore and stayed overnight with the soccer team. Luke was blown away by the people he met at Swarthmore.Luke Neureiter is a Senior at Swarthmore College pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and Peace & Conflict Studies.
November 10, 2021 Episode #168 Prof. Sivakumar on Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X: Building Entrepreneurial Confidence.
Prof Sivakumar joins us on our podcast today to share Why CREATE-X was born , the structure, instruction and opportunities it offers, startups it helps launch and how students and faculty benefit from it.
October 26, 2021 Episode #167 Tushar Sharma on Iowa State University: MIS, People Networking and Career Fairs.
In his high school in Punjab India, Tushar pursued Physics, Chemistry and Math, with Math being his strong suit. He took part in Olympiad competitions, was part of the Indian Red Cross Society and volunteered at social events and causes. Tushar Sharma is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
October 23, 2021 Episode #166 Segment #3: Applying to University of California. 10-Steps to Submit.
The last Segment in the 3-Segment Podcast Series to help students with their University of California (UC) Applications. This segment builds on the last 2 Segments, and walks the student through the UC Application in 10 Steps.
October 17, 2021 Episode #165 Liz Brigham on Davidson College’s Jay Hurt Hub: The Entrepreneurial Pursuit.
Liz joins us on our podcast to share Why The Jay Hurt Hub was born, the programs & activities, what it offers its stakeholders, and how the students at Davidson College benefit.
October 15, 2021 Episode #164 Segment #9: Merit-based Financial Aid. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
This segment covers the Cost of College, Financial Aid avenues, the Criteria for Financial Aid and Applying for Merit-based Aid.
October 14, 2021 Episode #163 College & Beyond: Hartejas Sekhon 12th Grade, India.
In this Podcast, Hartejas Sekhon talks about a wide range of topics, the Saathi NGO, her interest in Software Engineering, her views on the future, career, and how she is navigating the college process.
October 8, 2021 Episode #162 Segment #2: Applying to University of California. Getting Ready.
Segment #2 of the 3-Segment Podcast Series to help students with their University of California (UC) Applications. This segment outlines the preparatory work that needs to be done to get ready to fill out the UC Application.
October 6, 2021 Episode #161 Reid Furubayashi on Claremont McKenna: PPE, Fulbright Scholar and International Experience.
Reid had a well rounded High School experience. He did mock trial, speech and debate, played soccer, and was a pole vaulter. When time came to look for colleges, he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to study. Reid Furubayashi is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Highlights (3-minute Listen).
October 4, 2021 Episode #160 Mabel Tie on Barnard College: Psychology, Caring Student Body, and Public Service without Borders..
Mabel admits that her high school version did too much. She ran the Community Service Board, Weekly Homeless Shelter dinner, was in Student Government, played Soccer, Piano, Clarinet in Symphony and was in the band! Mabel Tie is a graduate of Barnard College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education Studies. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
September 30, 2021 Episode #159 Segment #1: Applying to University of California. Criteria & Requirements.
Segment #1 of the 3-Segment Podcast Series to help students with their University of California (UC) Applications. This segment covers What the UCs are looking for in their students, Requirements and Help Decide whether to apply to the UCs.
September 24, 2021 Episode #158 Segment #8: Planning, Letters of Recommendation & Timeline. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #8 of the 10-Segment Podcast Series to help students in 11th Grade build standout US College Applications. This segment takes time to recap previous Segments, to discuss Letters of Recommendation and Timeline Planning. Assignments included.
September 22, 2021 Episode #157 College & Beyond: Putri Aimee Srijaya 12th Grade, Indonesia.
In this Podcast, Putri talks about her love for writing, her broad range of interests in high school, her cooperative friends and how sees her future and college plans.
September 16, 2021 Episode #156 Andrew Maguire on Hidden Curriculum and International Students..
Andrew Maguire is the author of a new book Teaching Between the Lines, about the Hidden Curriculum. Andrew joins us on our podcast today and talks about the Academic and Social Impact to International Students during the college applications process, the college years, and ways to mitigate the impact.
September 14, 2021 Episode #154 Rifat Mursalin on Emory: Transformative Experience, Social Entrepreneurship and Halloween Tradition.
A first generation student, Rifat was in student government in High School, involved in Social Science projects, math club and tutoring other kids. He worked on programs for middle school kids from the inner city. Rifat Mursalin is a graduate of Emory University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics & French. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
September 9, 2021 Episode #153 College & Beyond: Sanya Goyal 12th Grade, India.
In this Podcast, Sanya talks about her passion for entrepreneurship, her broad range of interests in high school, her NGO, peer support group and how sees her future and college plans.
September 9, 2021 Episode #152 Chloe Heskett on UVA: Rich Traditions, The Cavalier Daily, and Career Abroad.
As a high schooler, Chloe was a student-athlete. She carried a full load of APs in her junior and senior years. She was a cross-country and track runner, in addition to riding and rowing. Chloe Heskett is a graduate of the University of Virginia (UVA for short), with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Politics. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
September 7, 2021 Episode #151 Stacey Kostell on The Coalition: College Access for All.
Stacey Kostell is the CEO of the Coalition for College Access. Stacey joins us on our podcast to tell us How The Coalition came together, Why Colleges & other community-based organizations are working with them, How they are helping students, and where they are headed.
September 2, 2021 Episode #149 About Majors: What is Biochemistry? With Prof. Dipali Sashital, Iowa State University.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Biochemistry, with Professor Dipali Sashital, Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Iowa State University.
August 30, 2021 Episode #148 College & Beyond: Saumya Gupta 12th Grade, India.
In this Podcast, Saumya Gupta a 12th Grader in India, shares her high school interests, her surprise discoveries about herself during COVID times, her thoughts on college abroad, career, and how she is navigating the college process.
August 25, 2021 Episode #147 Segment #7 on College Selection: Narrowing the List. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #7 of the 10-Segment Podcast Series to help students in 11th Grade build standout US College Applications. This segment tells students How to Narrow the College List. Athena Lao and Nick Wyville of Admissionado lead the discussion. Student Assignments included.
August 19, 2021 Episode #145 Jeet Raut on UI Urbana-Champaign: Cognitive Psychology, Quiz Bowl, and International Classmates.
In school, Jeet played the cello. He did Quiz Bowl. He was into science and technology clubs - robotics and astronomy being his favorite. He also played tennis in high school. Jeet Samarth Raut shares his University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign story in this podcast. Highlights (2-minute Listen).
August 17, 2021 Episode #144 What is Innovation? With Prof. James Oliver, Director of Student Innovation Center, ISU.
Prof Oliver joins us on our podcast to give us a Primer on Innovation. We cover, What is Innovation, When to Innovate and The Process of Innovating.He offers guidance to high schoolers on how to prepare and develop the skills needed to become tomorrow’s innovators.
August 14, 2021 Episode #142 Prof. James Oliver on ISU’s Student Innovation Center: Bold Experiment.
Professor James Oliver is the Director of the Student Innovation Center at Iowa State University, Ames Iowa. Prof. Oliver shares Why the Innovation Center was created, what it offers, and how students, faculty and High Schoolers benefit from it.
August 6, 2021 Episode #140 Jemina Bouma Perez on Rice: Cognitive Science, Passion for Education, and Culture of Care.
When Jemina was looking at colleges, her high school counselor suggested she look at Rice University. Jemina had not heard of Rice, but all that changed after visiting the campus. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
July 31, 2021 Episode #139 Michelle Setiawan of Sekolah Lentera Indonesia: Guiding Students to Colleges Abroad.
This episode sheds light on college-bound students at Sekolah Lentera Indonesia, a K-12 school, who are looking to study abroad. Michelle Setiawan, a College Counselor at the school, shares how the counseling team helps students navigate the college application process.
July 25, 2021 Episode #138 What is a Community College? “A Smarter Option”, says Dr Miloni Gandhi of Foothill College, California.
This podcast is to serve as a primer on Community Colleges in the US. Dr Miloni Gandhi, Adjunct Faculty at Foothill College in California tells us why US and International students should seriously consider applying to them.
July 13, 2021 Episode #135 Lorena James on Davidson College: Environmental Studies, Ecopreneur, and Passion for China.
In her senior year of high school, Lorena created her first eco-friendly startup that produced 3D filament made from invasive species from Lake Erie. Lorena James is a graduate of Davidson College with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Social Science and Chinese Studies. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
July 8, 2021 Episode #134 Segment #6 on College Essay: How to Write? A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #6 of the 10-Segment Podcast Series to help students in 11th Grade build standout US College Applications. This segment tells students How to Write the College Essay. Athena Lao and Rob Franklin of Admissionado lead the discussion. Student Assignments included.
July 4, 2021 Episode #132 Andy Ng on NYU: English & Urban Education, Pitching Competition, and New York City Energy.
In high school, Andy was a driven and busy high schooler. He was in student government, President of the Honor Society and a student athlete. Andy Ng is a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Urban Education and Social Entrepreneurship. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
June 28, 2021 Episode #131 About Majors: What is Physics? With Prof. Sridhara Dasu, University of Wisconsin Madison.
The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities.We kick off this series with Physics in this podcast with Professor Sridhara Dasu, Chair of the Department of Physics at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
June 16, 2021 Episode #129 Jennifer Davis on UVA: English Major, Black Student Community, and The Lawn.
As a high schooler, Jen loved writing and was part of the school newspaper and on the varsity tennis team. She was the president of the equity board. Jen thought she knew what kind of college she wanted to attend. Things, however, turned out a little differently. Jennifer Davis is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature.
June 14, 2021 Episode #127 Emma Steele on Villanova: PolSci, Community Outreach and Basketball Ball Games.
In High School, Emma was a dancer. She played the piano, violin, and participated in musicals in high school. Emma grew up in a family where Politics and Policy were dinner time conversations. Emma Steele is a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government.
June 2, 2021 Episode #125 Segment #5 on College Selection: Making the Initial List of Colleges. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #5 of the 10-Segment Podcast Series to help students in 11th Grade build standout US College Applications. This segment tells students how to make the Initial List of Colleges in order to reach the best possible outcomes. Athena Lao and Nick Wyville of Admissionado lead the discussion. Student Assignments included.
May 26, 2021 Episode #124 O’Brien & Calderon on ISU: Hidden Jewel, Innovation Thrust, and 900 Student Clubs.
Founded in 1858, Iowa State University’s Design Programs are highly ranked in the nation, and is also well known for its programs in Engineering, Sciences and Business. Brendan O’Brien, Director of International Students and Scholars Office and Jorge Calderon, Asst Director, International Student Recruitment share Iowa State’s programs, the facilities, & what they look for in their students. Highlights (4-minute Listen).
May 25, 2021 Episode #122 Lydia Piendel on Notre Dame: Dementia Research, Huge Sports Fan, and the Travel Bug.
In high school, Lydia grew up with a love for science, sports and school spirit. When she started to think about college, she looked for colleges that could offer those very same things. Lydia Piendel is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Psychology. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
May 14, 2021 Episode #120 Jay Jacobs, Vice Provost Enrollment at UVM: Distinctive Programs, State of the Art Labs, and Welcoming Community.
Founded in 1791, the University of Vermont (UVM) is a land grant research university in Burlington, Vermont. It has the distinction of being the 5th oldest university in the US. Jay Jacobs, Vice Provost Enrollment at UVM talks about the school and its premier programs and shares his experiences and insights for students and parents. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
May 12, 2021 Episode #118 Jemmy Chayadi on UW Madison: Mechanical Engineering Major, Becoming a Global Citizen, and Saturday Football Games.
When he was in High School in Jakarta, Indonesia, some students from UW Madison talked about their experiences in college. Young Jemmy was impressed and was motivated to apply to US Colleges. Jemmy Chayadi is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Highlights (4-minute Listen).
May 2, 2021 Episode #114 Sanjeet Rangarajan on Vanderbilt: BioMedical Engineering, Starting Model UN, and Snowball Fights.
Sanjeet grew up in the Detroit area loving math, science and engineering. When time came to choose a college, he was drawn to Vanderbilt because the medical school was also on campus. Sanjeet Rangarajan is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor’s degree in BioMedical Engineering. Highlights (4-minute Listen).
April 26, 2021 Episode #112 Andrew Maguire on Decoding the Hidden Curriculum in the College Admissions Process.
Andrew Maguire’s upcoming book - Hidden Curriculum, shines light on the norms, behavior, language and unstated expectations that certain types of students are unaware of, in the college admissions process. Andrew joins us on our podcast to talk about the book.
April 23, 2021 Episode #110 Segment #4 on College Essay: What to Write? A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #4 of the 10-Segment Podcast Series describes a framework for students to figure out what to write in their college essay. Athena Lao & Rob Franklin of Admissionado lead the discussion. Student Assignments included.
April 17, 2021 Episode #107 Sujata Gupta and Science Journalism: An Unusual Journey via Japan, Park Service to Johns Hopkins and Beyond.
Sujata Gupta is Social Sciences Reporter at Science News. Sujata is an alum of Cornell University and Johns Hopkins. In this podcast, Sujata gives us a peek into the world of Science Journalism, and how one goes about becoming a Science Journalist.
April 11, 2021 Episode #106 Conor Walsh on Harvard: Linguistics, Homeless Shelter, and Buddhist History Trek in the Himalayas.
Conor studied French and Chinese in High School. He loved languages. Grammar, the sounds. Literature and culture. In College, he wanted more. Conor Walsh is a graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
March 29, 2021 Episode #100 Episode #100: Why I Picked My College!
To mark this special episode, I decided to go through the tens of College Alumni podcasts and select the overriding reason they picked their college. The reasons fall into 6 different categories.
March 23, 2021 Episode #99 Miloni Gandhi on UCLA: International Development, Approachable Professors and Bruin Spirit.
Miloni wanted to go college in a “real city” like New York City. Unfortunately for Miloni, her parents wanted her to be close to home. Miloni Gandhi is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles with Bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies and Geography. Highlights (4-minute Listen)
March 19, 2021 Episode #98 Segment #3: Application Strategy. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #3 of this 10-Segment Podcast Series provides a process for students to develop the best strategy for their College Applications. Athena Lao & Rob Franklin of Admissionado lead the discussion. Student Assignments included.
March 6, 2021 Episode #94 Andrew Maguire on Vanderbilt: American Studies, Study Abroad Decision, and Tale of Two Halves.
Andrew liked and did well in AP Psychology in High School. At Vanderbilt, he took courses in Psychology. Then, his interests evolved. Andrew Maguire tells us how he graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies and Psychology. Highlights (3-minute Listen).
March 4, 2021 Episode #93 Mirka Martel of IIE: Interpreting Trends and Patterns Data on International Education.
At the Institute of International Education (IIE), Mirka Martel runs the Open Doors Data project and Project Atlas to study global mobility trends in International Education. In this podcast, Mirka explains the data and translates what that means for Colleges in the US and around the world, and prospective students and parents.
February 28, 2021 Episode #92 Professor Nikil Dutt of UC Irvine on Serendipity, Bright Students and Good Relationships.
Professor Dutt, a versatile researcher, shares his journey and insights on research, students and on being in the academia. Professor Nikil Dutt is the Chancellor’s Professor of Computer Science, EECS and Cognitive Science at the University of California Irvine.
February 24, 2021 Episode #91 Clare Overmann on Georgetown: Languages, International Experience, and Talks by World Leaders.
Clare loved languages in Middle School. She learnt Spanish and wanted to pursue it in College. It would turn out to be a great choice. Clare Overmann is a graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture. Highlights (2-minute Listen).
February 18, 2021 Episode #89 Segment #2: Extracurriculars Review and Summer Break Planning. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #2 of a 10-Segment Podcast Series to help 11th Grade students build their best US College Application. Segment #2 is on Extracurriculars and Summer Break Planning. Athena Lao & Rob Franklin of Admissionado lead the discussion. Student Assignments included.
February 02, 2021 Episode #84 Katie Dunagan, Int’l Admissions at UW Madison: Flagship campus, Wisconsin Idea and the Isthmus.
Founded in 1848, the University of Wisconsin Madison is the flagship campus of the 13-university system across the state. It boasts of highly ranked programs in Engineering and Business. Katie Dunagan, Assistant Director of International Admissions at UW Madison is our guest. Highlights (4-Minute Listen).
January 30, 2021 Episode #82 Cleo Handler: Yale Paved the Road to becoming an Actor, Writer, Director.
Growing up in Los Angeles, from a very young age, theater was a big part of Cleo’s life. She was very interested in Psychology and Neuroscience as well. Cleo Handler is a graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theater.
January 19, 2021 Episode #76 Segment #1: A Holistic Approach. A Guide to Build a Standout US College Application.
Segment #1 of a 10-Segment Podcast Series to help 11th Grade students build their best US College Application. Segment #1 focuses on a Holistic Approach. Athena Lao of Admissionado leads the discussion in this segment. Student Assignments included.
December 12, 2020 Episode #68 Karen Doster on Dartmouth: Challenging Courses, Sophomore Summer and College as Imagined.
Karen wanted to be in a small liberal arts college and Dartmouth certainly fit that bill. Karen Doster is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a Bachelor’s degree in Government, Public Policy and Native American Studies. Highlights (4-Minute Listen).
December 12, 2020 Episode #67 Seth Shapiro: Penn attracts Smart, Ambitious and Friendly Students.
Seth was quite clear that he wanted to go to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). So sure that he applied for Early Decision. Seth Shapiro is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Highlights (3-Minute Listen).
October 8, 2020 Episode #52 Princeton Alum Avinash Nayak: Challenging Academics, Students’ Diversity, Bicker and Lots of Clubs.
For every student, there is a college out there. For Avinash Nayak, that college was Princeton. Avinash gives us an in-depth account of his undergraduate experience at Princeton.
December 18, 2020 Episode #72 Yale Alum Ike Wilson: Learning Languages, Studying in Europe and Lasting Relationships.
Ike Wilson is a graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor’s degree in French. Ike wanted to go to a college that would allow him to pursue Languages, American Culture, and things international. Highlights (3-Minute Listen).
December 17, 2020 Episode #71 Mike Mochizuki on Brown University: An Undergraduate Journey to Explore and Discover.
Mike Mochizuki is a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelor’s degree in History. Brown allowed Mike to explore a variety of courses in his bid to find the subject that would excite him the most. Highlights (3-Minute Listen)
November 30, 2020 Episode #65 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about Last Minute College Application Tips, Int’l Students Migrate from Australia.
November 23, 2020 Episode #64 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about Faculty & Career Exploration, Early Fall 2021 Applications rise.
December 3, 2020 Episode #66 How Srihari Balaji of Union College landed Financial Aid.
Srihari Balaji, an international student, is a sophomore at Union College, New York. Srihari shares how he searched for Financial Aid, and how he went about applying for Aid.
November 9, 2020 Episode #62 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about SUNY Reopening Plans, IELTS vs SAT/ACT Testing..
November 10, 2020 Episode #61 Updates on Financial Aid for Fall 2021 from Ben Stern of IvyAchievement.
Benjamin Stern gives us an update on how colleges view Financial Aid for Fall of 2021 and what students need to do differently.
October 20, 2020 Episode #54 Priya Chandrasekaran tailored her college experience at University of Pittsburgh.
Priya wasn’t ready to commit to a major before college, and University of Pittsburgh (“Pitt”) gave her lots of options to try on. Pitt Alum Priya Chandrasekaran tells us how she navigated Pitt in this Podcast. Highlights (4-min Listen).
September 17, 2020 Episode #46 Athena Lao on Harvard: Studying Classics, Teaching Abroad and Wanting to Make Things Better.
A large number of high school students have Harvard on their list of Colleges they aspire to. Harvard University Alum Athena Lao shares her undergraduate experience in this Podcast.
October 27, 2020 Episode #57 Expert Tips before You Submit College Applications 2021.
The calendar is racing towards the end of the year, which means the College Applications deadlines are fast approaching. In this podcast, with the help of expertise from Admissions Officers and Counselors, we offer some tips in this COVID-19 world, before you submit the College Applications.
September 28, 2020 Episode #51 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about College Fall Enrollment drop, College Application Calendar Alert and more.
September 18, 2020 Episode #50 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about Purdue Fall Enrollment up and Colleges that are getting reopening right.
September 26, 2020 Episode #49 Ben Stern of IvyAchievement: Finding Financial Aid to attend US Colleges.
One big factor for college-bound students and parents is the cost of attending college. Benjamin Stern, CEO of IvyAchievement, a college counseling firm, tells us all about financial aid options.
September 11, 2020 Episode #48 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about the Plight of Int’l Students, and the mad rush to take the SATs.
September 4, 2020 Episode #45 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about University of California being asked to go Test Blind, and the status of Colleges Reopening in Fall.
August 27, 2020 Episode #42 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about 7 tips for International Students during COVID-19.
August 25, 2020 Episode #41 Test Optional: Nitin Jain on How to Navigate College Applications. Now.
Standardized Tests have fallen victim to COVID-19. Nitin Jain, Co-founder of Oncourse, shares his views on how students should handle College Applications without Standardized Tests.
August 20, 2020 Episode #39 Sibi Venkatesan on UC Berkeley. The Daily Grind, Great People and Donut runs.
Sibi Venkatesan knew he wanted to study Computer Science. He had always enjoyed it and was good at it. Sibi moved from Bangalore to UC Berkeley to pursue the prestigious Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program.
August 18, 2020 Episode #38 On Creating with Humility: Anika Gupta on her time at MIT.
Anika Gupta wasn’t very keen on MIT. A campus visit to MIT changed all that. Anika went on to get a joint major at MIT in Computer Science and Molecular Biology.
August 8, 2020 Episode #37 Counseling with Admissionado: Athena Lao on Rolling up the Sleeves to Find the Right College.
College counselors have enormous power to do good, to guide students to the right college destinations. Athena Lao, Head College Mentor at Admissionado, talks about their hands-on approach to counseling.
August 3, 2020 Episode #34 Washington University in St. Louis crystallized Chetan Vakkalagadda’s interest in Medicine into a career.
Chetan Vakkalagadda joined Washington University in St Louis, to validate his interest in medicine. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, a minor in music, and a firm confirmation that medicine was his calling.
July 23, 2020 Episode #31 Princeton Prof Isobel Ojalvo: Early Curiosity leads to High Energy Particle Physics Research.
Isobel Ojalvo grew up enjoying Math and Science, overcoming societal biases about girls and science. Today Isobel Ojalvo is a High Energy Particle Physicist, and Assistant Professor at Princeton University.
July 18, 2020 Episode #29 UC Santa Barbara: Lisa Przekop, Admissions Director on Reading 110K Applications, “Happy” Students and UG Focus.
Lisa Przekop, Director of Admissions at UC Santa Barbara shares an insider’s view on the school, students and applications.
July 15, 2020 Episode #28 Competitive Colleges: Ben Stern of IvyAchievement on Counseling International Students.
Benjamin Stern, founder and CEO of IvyAchievement of USA a college counseling firm, shares his approach to helping International students make it to competitive US Colleges.
June 27, 2020 Episode #25 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor talks about the OPT visa, Creative approaches to Fall College reopening and College programs being cut.
June 30, 2020 Episode #24 The Stanford Sprint and a Jog. Gobi Dasu on his UG and Graduate Experiences.
Gobi Dasu, a Stanford University alum talks about his race to finish his undergraduate program in 2 years and later returned for Graduate study.
June 28, 2020 Episode #23 Managing Student Expectations: Counseling Tenets that Guide Nitin Jain of Oncourse.
Nitin Jain of Oncourse discusses how they set and manage students’ College expectations using Counselng Tenets they developed over the last 10 years.
June 22, 2020 Episode #22 Dr Subhasish Dasgupta. In pursuit of a passion from Calcutta to George Washington University.
Dr Dasgupta traces his journey of how he transformed a passion for Information Systems into a career in academia at George Washington University.
June 20, 2020 Episode #21 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on Students changing College Plans and COVID-19 testing on campus.
June 13, 2020 Episode #20 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on Tech Graduate Students from India down and International Students in limbo.
June 3, 2020 Episode #19 The Columbia Years. Narayan Subramanian on Academics, Activism and the Big Apple.
Narayan Subramanian, a Columbia University alum paints a vivid picture of life in college, the dorms and regales us with anecdotes on the activism on campus and the taste of the Big Apple.
June 6, 2020 Episode #18 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on Senate Hearing in Colleges reopening and AP Online Testing.
June 3, 2020 Episode #17 COVID-19 & Beyond. Nitin Jain of Oncourse on Counseling for College Applications. Part II
College Counselor Nitin Jain, Co-founder of Oncourse, India talks about the impact of COVID-19 on College Counseling.
May 30, 2020 Episode #16 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on AP Online Testing, SAT/ACT Fall Testing and Fall Colleges reopening.
May 27, 2020 Episode #15 Fall Semester & The Virus. Dr Sridhara Dasu, Chair, Physics Department, U of Wisconsin Madison. Part II.
Dr Dasu talks about the Fall 2020 semester with the virus, and the permanent changes forced by the virus.
May 23, 2020 Episode #14 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor discusses University of California dropping SAT, ACT, and College Deferrals.
May 21, 2020 Episode #13 Immersion. Nitin Jain of Oncourse on Counseling for College Applications. Part I.
Nitin Jain, Co-founder of Counseling firm Oncourse, shares how they shape and sculpt aspiring students to become competitive college applicants.
May 16, 2020 Episode #12 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor discusses CSU going Online this Fall, Bugs in AP Online tests, and Drop in Graduate students enrollment.
May 15, 2020 Episode #11 The Hustle to go Online. Dr Sridhara Dasu, Chair Physics Department, U of Wisconsin Madison. Part I.
Dr Sridhara Dasu gives us an inside account on how his department moved from in-class instruction to online in a few weeks.
May 9, 2020 Episode #10 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on Students suing US Colleges, Summer Internships and ACT Test in June.
May 5, 2020 Episode #9 Global Journey with Dr Chandru Rajam. Educator, Entrepreneur.
Dr Rajam shares his rich experiences studying, working and living in multiple countries.
May 2, 2020 Episode #8 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on US Colleges' financial health and International Students stuck in the US.
April 29, 2020 Episode #7 Ivy League Online. Abhinav Sriram of Brown talks about his virtual semester.
Abhinav Sriram is a freshman at Brown University majoring in Computer Science and Economics.
Episode #6 College News Fit to Digest.
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives her take on Fall 2020, Gap Year and SAT/ACT test at home.
Episode #5
Online Now. On Campus in Fall? Let's ask Kartikeye Khanna, Freshman U of Wisconsin Madison
Episode #4
College Applications. Think Differently in the COVID-19 world
Episode #3
Tests Cancelled! What should a student be doing now?
Episode #2
Stuck @Home? Counselor Shveta has suggestions for your New Found Time
Episode #1
Coronavirus Impact on College Students: Conversation with Ajan Subramanian, senior at UC Irvine
